San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-27
Apostle of the TuIes.
BRET nARrE, IN LovaMAx,s MAGAZINE.

BRET HARTE, IN LoNGMAN's MAGAZINE.
dow before he faced Gideon with inquiffig
but curiOusly shining eyes.
'Wellp' he said, hesitatingly.
DO you know Kate SOmmersPT asked
Gideon
Hamlin opened his brown eyes. YES"
Can you send for her?'' What, herer'
Eyes, here" "What fOr?''
ITO marry him." said Gideon, gently.
There's no time to lose"
TO MARRY him?' "He wishes it,"
But say-O come, now" said Hamlin
cOnfdentially leaning back with his hands
on the top of a chair. Amt this playing it
a little-just a tiuIe-tOo low DOWN. OF
course you mean well, and all that: but come
now, say-cuuldn't you just let up on him
there? Why She'-Hamlin softly closed the
door-''she's got no character"
The more reason he should give her One."
A cynical knowledge OF matrimOny i'm
parted to hun by the wives of others evident
ly colorcd Mr.. Hamlin's views. "Well, per
haps it's all the same if he's going to die.
But isn't it rather rough on her? don't
know" he added rctlectively, ''she was
sniyelling round here little while ago until
l sent her away"
"YOu sent her away" echoed Gideon.
81 did," "Why?'
because you were here"
Nevertheless Mr.. Hamlin departed, and in
half an hour appeared with two brilliantly
dressed women. One hysterical, fearful,
frightened and pallid, was the destined
bride; the other highly cOlored, excited and
pleasedly observant was her friend. Two
men hastily summoned from the ante-rOom
as witnesses completed the group that moved
into the bedroom and gathered round the
bed.
The ceremony was simple and brief. IL
was well, for of all who took part in it none
was more shaken by emotion than the Ofiiciat-
ing priest. The brilliant dresses of the wO-
men; the contrast of their painted faces with
the waxen paIlOr Of the dying man; the ter
rible incongruity of their voices, infections,
expressions and familiarity; the mingled
perfume of cosmetics and the faint OdOr of
wine; the eyes OF the younger woman fol-
lowing his movements with strange absOrp-
ton, so affected him that he was glad when
hercould fall Oh his knees at last and bury
his face in the pillow of the sufferer. The
hand that had been placed in the brides cold
fingers slipped from them and mechanically
sought Gideon's again The significance of
the unconscious act brought the first spOn-
taneous tears into the woman's eyes. 1t was
hislast act, for when Gideon's voice was
again lifted in praying, the spirit for whom
1t was offered had risen with it
1t was the evening before the funeral.
The coffin, half smothered in wreaths and
flowers, stood upon trestles in the ante-room;
large silver plate bearing an inscription on
which for the second time Gideon read the
name of the man he had converted. 1t was
q name associated on the frontier so often
with reckless hardlhOOd, dissipation and
blood, that even now Gideon trembled at his
presumption, and was chilled by a momen-
tary doubt of the efficiency of his labor.
Drawing unconsciously nearer to the mute
subject of his thoughts, he threw his arms
across the coffin and buried his face between
them.
A stream of soft music, the echo Of some
| forgotten song, seemed to Gideon to sudden
| ly fill and possess the darkened room, and
then to slowly die away like the opening
and shuttingof door upon a flood Of golden
radiance He listened with hushed breath
and a beating heart He had never heard
anything like it before. Again the strain
arose, the chords sweled round him, until
from their midst tenor voice broke high
and steadfast like star in troubled skies.
| Gideon scarcely breathed. 1t was a hymn
| but such a hymn. lie had never conceived
there could be such beautiful words Joined
| to such exquisite melody, and sung with a
| grace so tender and true. What were all
other hymns to this inefable yearning for
| light, for love, and for infinite rest? Thrilled
| and exalted, Gideon felt his doubts pierced
and scattered by that illuminating cry. Sud
denly he rose and, with troubled thought
| pushed open the door to the sitting-r room. 1t
was Jack Hamlin sitting before an organ.
| The music ceased
at was yOu," stammered Gideon.
Jack nodded, struck few chords by way
of finish, and then wheeled round on the
music-stOol toward Gideon. HIS face was
| slightly flushed. Yes. | used to be the
Organist and tenor in our church in the
| States. used to snatch the sinners bald
headed with that. Do you know, | reckon
| I'll sing that tomorrow, if you like, and
may be afterward we'll-but-" he stopped
-" We'll talk of that after the funeral. It's
business" Seeing Gideon still glanclng
with troubled air from the organ to him
self he said: Would you like to try that
hymn with meP Come onr'
He again struck the chords As the whole
room seemed to throb with music. Gideon
felt himself again carried away. CHANGING
over Jacks shoulders he could read the
words, but not the notes; yet, having aquick
ear for rhythm, he presently Joined in with
deep but uncultivated baritone. Together
they forgot everything else, and at the end
| of an hour were only recalled by the pres
ence of a slightly admiring cOncOurse Of
votive-Offering friends who had gathered
round them.
The funeral took place the next day at
the grave dug in the public cemetery-a
green area fenced in by the palisading tules.
| The words of Gideon were brief but humble
the strongest partisan of the dead man could
find no fault in confession of hu Imam frail.
| ty in which the speaker humbly confessed
bis share, and when the hymn was started
| by Hamln and taken up by Gideon, the vast
multitude, drawn by interest and curiosity,
| Joined in solemn amen.
Later, when these two strangely assorted
friends had returned to Mr.. Hanlin's rooms
previous to Gideon's departure, the former,
in a manner more serious than his usual
cynical good humor, began: 81 said had to
talk business with you. The boys about
here want to build church for you, and are
ready to plank the money down if you'll say
lisa go. You understand they aren't ask
ing you to run in opposition to that Gospel
sharp-excuse me-thats here now, nor do
they want you to run side show in cOnnec.
ton with it They want you to be independ-
ent They don't pin you down to any kind
of religion, you know; whatever you care 10
give them-Methodist Roman Catholic,
1 n